John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 872: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has a supervisory or statutory role in relation to the operation of the Environmental Protection Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19555/05]

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 873: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether the Environmental Protection Agency is fulfilling its role as originally set-up; if he proposes to carry out an evaluation of the agency in relation to original aims and objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19556/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 872 and 873 together.

I am satisfied that the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, is discharging its functions in accordance with its statutory role. A strategic review of the organisation was completed and implemented by the Director General of the agency in 2003. In addition, arising from An Agreed Programme for Government of June 2002, the Office of Environmental Enforcement was established in October 2003.

My Department supports the EPA through providing funds, including from the environment fund for its organisational and programme requirements and through its responsibility for the legislative and policy framework for environmental protection. However the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is precluded from exercising power or influence in relation to particular matters with which the agency is or may be involved.